Dirty Secrets of The cosmetic Industry Exposed!
Why be an informed consumer
. To not be fooled by green-washing and slick marketing
. To protect your family from toxic chemicals disguised as ‘natural’ ingredients
. To create a better world through consumer power
Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has!” Margaret Mead
What is ‘natural’? Truly Natural
NO chemical reaction = Safe,Edible,Food grade
Naturally Derived / Synthesised Involves a chemical process e.g. Cocoamide DEA (coconut)? =
Some processing aids and impurities in cosmetic chemicals are linked to asthma, learning disabilities, infertility, birth defects and cancer.
What is Organic’?
An ecological and sustainable farm management system
YES: ? promotes biodiversity ? enhances soil fertility ? prevents topsoil erosion ? protects groundwater ? conserves energy ? protects our next generation NO: ? genetic engineering ? pesticides ? synthetic fertilisers, ? antibiotics ? growth hormones
But what about organic products?How can we tell a truly organic product?
Certified Organic
Is an independent third party guarantee of an ‘organic’ claim
Is a guarantee of authenticity and integrity of every ingredient
Is regulated by government and independent certification bodies
Only certified organic products can bear a certifiers logo
Without a logo an ‘organic’ claim cannot be substantiated
What is a ‘certified organic’ product?
ORGANIC FOOD STANDARDS
Divide the total net weight of the organic ingredients by the total weight (excluding water and salt) of the finished product. Required at least 95%. Synthetics prohibited.
77.4 (organic) divided by 80 (organic + natural) = 96.75%
YES:
? Minimally processed
? Naturally extracted
NO:
? Synthetic processes
? Synthetic preservatives
? Animal testing
? Irradiation
Common consumer fallacies
. “I can trust the safety of the products I use”
. “My health is not affected by the products I use”
. “Labels are accurate and consistent and list all the chemical ingredients in the products I use”
. “The government accurately regulates products and in the process protects me from chemicals known to harm my health”
. “I can trust the companies making the products I use because they put my health before dollars and cents.”
[Dingle & Brown (1999)]
“Consumers believe that ‘if it’s on the market, it can’t hurt me’ And this belief is sometimes wrong.”
– Director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors (FDA 1998
Why developed certified organic products?
To be a beacon of integrity amongst the plethora of fake natural and organic products.
To support farmers and companies in the ethical and sustainable use of the earth’s resources.
To offer products that are truly safe and effective.
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) information
Water
Dimethicone (silica)?
Carbomer 941
PEG-50 Almond Glycerides (almond)?
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (coconut)?
Cocoamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Triethanolamine (TEA)?
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Phenoxyethanol
Methyl Paraben (organic preservative)?
FD&C Yellow No. 6
Fragrance
Composed of 4 known carcinogens
Formaldehyde
Dioxane
Ethylene Oxide
Acetaldehyde
Causes eye stinging and redness
Causes redness and burning of skin
Toxicological properties have NOT been investigated at all.
Toxic to kidney and bladder
Causes reproductive disorders
Serious damage to the eyes
Causes brain degeneration
Harmful by skin absorption
Eye irritant, Skin irritant
Causes TUMORS in lungs and thorax
Causes TUMORS in endocrine system
Toxicological properties have NOT been thoroughly investigated.
Severely irritating to body tissues
Corrosive to the eyes
React with nitrosating agents to form nitrosamines, which are Carcinogenic
Harmful by skin absorption
Corrosion and burns to the eyes and skin
Permanent irreversible eye damage
Nitrosating agent
Greenwashing – don’t believe the hype!
Companies mislead consumers by listing botanical extracts, or ‘aqueous infusions’ (which are just weak teas) at the top of the ingredient list.
Hiding the synthetic surfactant ingredients that make up the core of the product further down the list.
The substantial water component of the herbal mixture as organic is incorrectly counted as ‘organic’, which is prohibited under International Organic Standards. This practice artificially inflates the organic content in order to make a deceptive 70% organic claim.
Lurking dangers in the cosmetic industry
“Consumers believe that ‘if it’s on the market, it can’t hurt me.’ And this belief is sometimes wrong.”
– Director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors (FDA 1998)?
Known and probable human carcinogens in cosmetics
One-third of all products contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens.
Impurities of concern in personal care products
Nearly 70% of all products contain ingredients that can be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer and other health problems.
Unassessed ingredients
89 % of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA, or any other publicly accountable institution.
Toxic impurities in personal care products
Nearly 70% of all products assessed contain ingredients that can be contaminated with impurities.
Many impurities readily penetrate human skin.
55% of all products assessed contain “penetration enhancers”.
50 products contain both penetration enhancers and known or probable human carcinogens.
1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide contamination
Probable human carcinogens (EPA)?
Known animal carcinogens (NTP)?
Readily penetrate the skin. (FDA)?
1982 CIR “aware of the problem and making efforts”
2000 FDA “continuing concerns.evidence linking it to systemic cancer”
2003 FDA “1,4-dioxane can be removed.without an unreasonable cost”
2003 CIR “importance of purification procedures was stressed”
Since they are impurities, they do not appear on ingredient labels.
AVOID these ingredients:
‘PEG’, ‘polyethylene’, ‘polyethylene glycol’, ‘polyoxyethylene’, ‘-eth-‘ (such as sodium laureth sulfate), ‘oxynol’, ‘ceteareth’ or ‘oleth’.
Nitrosamine contamination
“FDA has urged cosmetic manufacturers to voluntarily remove from cosmetics any ingredient that may combine with others to form NDELA and to conduct additional testing to determine why cosmetics become contaminated with NDELA.”
– USFDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors, 1996
Nitrosamines are formed when a two types of ingredients react together. The reaction occurs during manufacture and storage. The EWG analysis shows that 10% of products contain ingredients that can combine to form nitrosamines.
U.K. Department of Trade and Industry found that nitrosamine levels in some products had more than doubled four months after the product was opened, and increased by more than four-fold over 17 months (DTI 1998).
AVOID these ingredients:
MEA (Monoethanolamine), DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine)?
e.g. Cocamide MEA, Cocamide DEA, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, TEA Lauryl Sulfate.
PAH contamination
PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are common contaminants in petrolatum, also called petroleum jelly or paraffin and sold under well-known brand name of Vaseline.
Petrolatum is listed as a probable human carcinogen in the European Union’s Dangerous Substances Directive (UNECE 2004)?
PAHs and Breast Cancer
Researchers at Columbia University found that the breast tissue of women with breast cancer was 2.6 times more likely to contain elevated levels of PAHs than the breast tissue of women without breast cancer (Rundle et al. 2000).
Petrolatum is found 7.1% of products on the market, including 15% of all lipstick and 40% of all baby lotions and oils. </b?
Untested Ingredients
The Expert Panel noted the marked absence of safety data specifically on Isostearamide DEA and MEA, Myristamide DEA and MEA, and Stearamide DEA and MEA.
– CIR Panel commenting on the lack of data available for all six chemicals under review before finding them all “safe for use” in cosmetics (CIR 2003)?
Since its inception in 1976, the CIR has met an estimated 112 times and reviewed 1,175 cosmetic ingredients.
Spent an average of one hour and ten minutes deliberating the use, toxicity, and safety of each ingredient reviewed.
Has assessed only 11% of the 10,500 ingredients used in cosmetics.
Found just 9 ingredients unsafe for use in cosmetics. 2 of these are still in products currently on the market!
How do you protect yourself?
Don’t fall for ‘natural’ claims
Don’t fall for ‘organic’ claims without a logo
Read ingredients lists!
100% CHEMICAL FREE ORGANIC PRODUCTS www.OrganicEmpowerment.com
http://www.OrganicEmpowerment.com
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